Nigerian Government To Arrest Sponsors Of Hunger Protests, Places Them On Watchlist
The Nigerian government has announced its intention to arrest individuals sponsoring the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, placing them on the Nigerian Immigration Service’s (NIS) watchlist.
Comptroller-General of NIS, Kemi Nandap, made this announcement on Tuesday during a meeting at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, convened by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.
According to Nandap, the sponsors, who are primarily based overseas, will be arrested upon their return to Nigeria. She stated, “We have diaspora sponsors, and they are on our watchlist. Any attempt they make to enter the country will alert us, and they will be apprehended and handed over to the appropriate authority.”
In response to the situation, the NIS has increased the number of officers at borders and airports to ensure effective surveillance and prevent foreign intervention.
Yusuf Bichi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), also confirmed the identification of some sponsors but refrained from providing further details. It was revealed that some bank accounts linked to these sponsors have been frozen, and individuals operating these accounts from abroad are being monitored.
This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive to suppress the protests, which have been ongoing across the country. The protesters are demanding the government reverse certain policies that have exacerbated the nation’s economic crisis.
